Tension device



Aug. 19, 1958 H. sT. PIERRE TENSION DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1955 Dm W2 m wk 1 ///M//% M W l 6 r a Z a N //M/, C 4

United States Patet TENSION DEVICE Henry St. Pierre, Worcester, Mass.

Application August 22, 1955, Serial No. 529,623

2 Claims. (Cl. 267-71) This invention relates to a new and improved tension device for cushion spring unit, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a new and improved simplified construction which is more efiicient in operation, easier to replace and repair, and less expensive to manufacture than devices of the prior art used for the same purpose.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a simplified construction for a tension device or cushion spring unit comprising a pair of interfitting or telescoping elongated U-shaped brackets or the like, which are provided between the relative closed ends thereof with a cushioning spring or resilient member such as a block of rubber, and including means holding said U- shaped brackets in assembled relation and imparting an initial or pro-loaded tension on the device, each of said U-shaped members having at the open ends thereof detachable means for receiving the end of a chain, a hook, or other attaching means such as cables, ropes, etc.; and the provision of a device as above described wherein each U-shaped member is provided with a fixed band surrounding the same adjacent the closed end thereof, said bands strengthening the U-shaped brackets and preventing bulging thereof under heavy tension and providing stop means limiting the motion of the U-shaped brackets relative to each other under tension, so that when a load is applied to the respective ends of the U-shaped brackets, said bands gradually approach each other due to the telescoping action of the brackets; and upon contacting each other, the bands form an upper limit position for the tension applied to the brackets, any further tension being derived from the tightening of the chain or cord to which the device is applied, but without exerting any greater resilient force due to the stopping action of the two bands above described.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter including details of construction and parts of the device.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a view in elevation showing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig. l and part being in section on the line A--A in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line BB of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 illustrates the band positions under tension of the device; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a modified construction.

The present device comprises in general a U-shaped member which consists of elongated side runs and 12 which are generally parallel and spaced and are connected by a closed end member 14; and another similar member comprising side runs 16 and 18 joined by a closed end member 20. These two members interfit in opposed relation, as clearly shown, and are telescopically arranged. It is intended that the open end of each U-shaped bracket just described shall extend respectively beyond the closed ice end member 14 or 20 respectively of the other U-shaped bracket.

The extending ends are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2-, and provide for detachable bolts 22 and 24 respectively to be applied thereto and connect the same both for the purpose of strengthening the ends and applying a means for connecting the end link of a chain or a hook such as diagrammatically illustrated at 26, so that the tension device is seen to be insertable anywhere desired in a chain, cable, etc., as when used for tying down loads and the like, and particularly with a load binder. The bolts 22 and 24 may be provided with exterior sleeves 28 to space the ends of the members 10, 12; and 16 and 18.

Additional but smaller U-shaped members generally indicated at 30, 32 are inserted between the respective arms 16, 18, 10 and 12 and are provided with apertures to accommodate the bolts 22 and 24, the sleeves 28 having their ends bearing on the inside surfaces of the arms going to make up the U-shaped members 30 and 32. Pins 34 may also be utilized as shown for the purpose of strengthening the apparatus and allowing for a preloading effect to be imparted to the closed ends 14 and 20 of the U-shaped brackets, the closed ends 14 and 20 being maintained in position when sleeves 28 and bolts 22 and 24 are removed in order to insert the end of a chain or other device.

Instead of using the U-shaped members 30 and 32, flat plates 36 may be utilized. These plates may be held in position by rivets 38 (see Fig. 5), and in this case the ends 14 and 20 bear directly on the inner ends at 40 of the plates 36. Otherwise the construction is the same as above described. With the construction of Fig. 5, a larger member 26 may be inserted.

Each U-shaped bracket is provided with a continuous band extending around it and these bands are indicated at 42 and 44. Band 42 is secured as by welding to the parts 16 and 18 adjacent the closed end 26 and the band 44 is likewise secured to arms 10 and 12 adjacent closed end 14. It will be clear that the bands 42 and 44 move with the brackets as they are pulled under conditions of tension applied to the bolts 22, 24. Eventually under full load the bands 42 and 44 will contact each other upon moving the distance indicated by the arrows C in Fig. 4-, whereupon no further motion or increased tension is possible as far as the device under consideration is concerned, although the chain may be tightened as by a load binder. Thus the degree of tension is predetermined by the original relative positions of the bands 42 and 44 on the respective brackets and the tension may be calibrated by the degree of motion of one band relative to the other.

It is preferred that the tension device of the present invention comprise a relatively large block of rubber generally indicated at 46 and which as shown has a cylindrical form. A spring may be used also but it has been found that the solid block of rubber is particularly eflicient, easy to assemble and use and inexpensive to manufacture. The bands 42 and 44 also have the function of preventing the arms 10, 12, 16 and 18 from expanding under lateral pressure due to bulging outwards of the rubber 46 under compression and thus it is seen that these bands provide a double function for the device.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a pair of elongated U-shaped brackets each having a closed end and an opposite open end, said brackets being assembled in telescoping relation with the open ends thereof extending in opposite directions and the closed end of each means comprising U-shaped members having closed ends extending inwardly from the open ends of the U-shaped brackets and each U-shaped member contacting the closed end of the opposite U-shaped bracket.

2. The device of claim 1 including a cross-pin anchored in the arms of the U-shaped bracket and extending between the arms of the U -shaped stop member adjacent the closed end of the latter.

each bracket adjacent the open end thereof, said stop 5 References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Richards May 1, 1866 Johnston Jan. 29, 1878 Belding Apr. 7, 1885 Hughes et a1 Oct. 16, 1917 Lopez Mar. 7, 1922 Howey May 13, 1930 

